1887.] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 59 



himself has obtained small red globules with these inclusions by 

 fusing alumina by oxyhydrogen flame ; and, although having no 

 positive evidence, he believes these stones to be artificially 

 obtained by fusion. 



On the receipt of M. Friedel's report, the syndicate decided 

 that all cabochon or cut stones of this kind shall be sold 

 as artificial, and not precious gems. Unless consignments are 

 so marked the sales will be considered fraudulent, and the mis- 

 demeanor punishable under the penal code. All sales effected 

 thus far, amounting to some 600,000 or 800,000 francs, shall be 

 cancelled, and the money and stones returned to their respective 

 owners. 



The action taken by the syndicate has fully settled the posi- 

 tion which this production will hold among gem dealers, and 

 there is little reason to fear that the true ruby will ever lose the 

 place it has occupied for so many centuries. These stones show 

 the triumph of modern science in chemistry, it is true ; and 

 although some may be willing to have the easily attainable, there 

 are others who will want, what the true ruby is becoming to-day, 

 the almost unattainable. One will be nature's gem, and the 

 other the gem made by man. 



NOTE ON VANESSA ANTIOPA, L. 



BY E. B. GROVE. 

 I^Read May 6th, 1887.) 



The objects which I have on exhibition to-night are, as men- 

 tioned in the programme — " Egg-shells of the Vanessa Antiopa," 

 and the reason for their being selected for exhibition was not 

 that they in themselves are either very beautiful or rare objects, 

 but rather for certain facts concerning the life-history of the 

 insect. 



It is known to entomologists by the various names of " Van- 

 essa Antiopa, cloaked Vanessa, Papilio Afitiopa,'^ and "Camber- 

 well Beauty ; " but the name generally used in its classification, 

 is the one originally given to it by Linn^us, /. e., " Vanessa 

 Antiopa." 



It is one of the most common butterflies, both in this country 

 and in Europe. Dr. Packard thinks that it has probably been 



